A Night at the Ballet (Justin)

[Natasha Davenport]

So the kiss had shaken her more than she would have liked to admit, and therefore she was more determined than ever to break things off with Justin. Heaven help her if a kiss could turn her into putty what else was the man capable of doing?

Finalizing her ensemble with a pair of diamond earrings she studied herself in the mirror. She wore a classy strapless white satin sheath dress that came down to her ankles in the back but stopped at her knees in the front giving a waterfall effect assisted by a sheer slip that gave the dress depth. She wore drop diamond earings and a solitare diamond necklace. She easily would steal the rooms attention when she arrived, but that wasn't the target audience she was aiming for.

Suddenly she was nervous. Damn him! She should not have been nervous it was only a kiss... How many times was she going to have to tell herself that tonight? Oh well at least she had a game plan.

She sent an owl to Justin not to be late or the doors would be locked against him, now as it was she was waiting in her box fidgeting with her glove. She heard the doorknob turn and stood to face whoever entered regally like a queen awaiting her subject.

[Justin Scotts]

That last kiss had been on Justin's mind almost constantly. If he didn't know better, he'd wonder just who was really being played in this little game--him or Natasha. Maybe they both were, by some unknown external force. Attraction, lust, passion--anything but love. No, love was for the innocent, and Justin was certainly no innocent.

But one thing was certain--the attraction he felt for Natasha was stronger than any he'd ever felt for any other girl. It was so strong, it almost scared him. And he was not a man who scared easily. He was a Scotts, after all, and he'd been taught never to run away from anything... and he wouldn't. No, he'd plunge right into the heart of danger, even if the only thing he was risking was his heart.

So Justin was pleased to see that Natasha hadn't decided to skip out on the ballet that night. He had almost expected that she'd owl him and tell him she had decided not to attend. And for all he knew, she might still not be there when he showed up at the box. Even if she'd wanted to attend this particular show, she could have sat down in the orchestra seats instead, trying to blend in with the muggles and middle class.

But he dutifully dressed up in a perfectly tailored tuxedo, looking very much like a Hollywood movie star walking the red carpet at an awards show. He was practically tingling with anticipation--he refused to call it nerves--as he approached the box and opened the door.

As he stepped inside, the sight that greeted him very nearly brought him to his knees. It should have been illegal for a woman to look as breathtakingly beautiful as Natasha Davenport did that night. The dress was stunning as it skimmed over her curves with shimmery satin, but what drew his attention was the generous display of her long, shapely legs. He allowed his gaze to travel lazily down her figure, lingering on her legs, before he returned to look at her exquisite face. Her hair was swept up off of her face, and all he could think was that he positively ached to pull it from those pins and allow it to cascade down her shoulders and back and through his fingers.

He smiled at her, for once a genuine smile and not his usual arrogant smirk. He cleared his throat, trying to find the words to speak and finding he couldn't. "Natasha," was all he could say.

[Natasha Davenport]

It was the smile that did her in. Yes he was breath takingly handsome, she had prepared herself for that, and he stood with natural confidence and breeding, she was prepared for that too, but his smile...it wasn't the usual arrogant smirk and somewhere inside her she was touched by that smile. Why couldn't they just be two normal kids experiencing the first tates of young affection? Why did they have to play these games?

"Justin." she returned equally taken away. Her knees felt like jelly and her hands gripped one another so tightly she'd have a bruise the next day. Releasing her breath she gestured to a seat,"Please make yourself at ease."

[Justin Scotts]

It was at that moment that the game stopped being fun for Justin. He wasn't sure if he was playing it, or if it was playing him, because he now realized that he wanted Natasha Davenport more than he'd ever wanted anyone. Maybe he even needed her. And Justin Scotts didn't need anyone.

He'd never figured out his endgame with her, and never decided what exactly he hoped to gain from this. But now he didn't think he could settle for anything less than total possession of her--body and soul.

Which probably meant marriage... truly a terrifying thought.

He sort of sank into the seat next to her, feeling surprisingly nervous. He was torn between wanting to keep away from her and wanting to kiss her with all the hunger he felt building up inside him. In the end, he did neither.

"You look beautiful. Do you always dress like that for the ballet?"

[Natasha Davenport]

She did. Her station in life as well as his demanded a certain amount of class, style, and elegance. The ballet, especially for their class, not only was a wonderful engagement of the arts, but also a social occasion. Natasha was born and bred for society, she knew the rules and she played the game.

"One must appear one's best if one is to be on the arm of a Scotts."she replied, a small curve appearing at the corner of her mouth. She was charmed and it was no use denying it, she could only hope there was a way to use it against him.

[Ashton Lane]

Ashton wasn't entirely sure what Natasha's game was these days, she seemed to be more on edge the closer she got to her birthday which made sense since she intended to fight for her father's company, so he was pleased when she invited him to the ballet. He knew that she was pushing herself too hard and too fast, and while he wouldn't have minded making a potion to help her through her stress, something had changed for him as well.

That something was a blonde with a penchant for books and all together too much charm, suddenly everything he did he wanted to make sure would measure up to her standards, and somehow helping giving Natasha what was essentially a drug to help her through her problems, didn't seem too ethical.

He adjusted his suit once more outside the box to make sure he was presentable when he arrived, Natasha would kill him if he didn't look his best. Suddenly he wondered why she hadn't invited Devon but he shrugged the thought away and opened the door.

"Sorry I'm late, I-" he paused when he saw Justin then continued though there was a question in his tone, "got you these..." in his hand there was a bouquet of red roses.

[Natasha Davenport]

Natasha couldn't have planned his arrival more perfectly. He had even showed up with flowers to boot, at that moment she loved him and at the same time, after a lingering glance at Justin, she wished Ashton far away, perhaps that made his arrival all the more necessary.

When she had been informed that she had to attend the ballet that evening and that she would be sharing a box with Justin she was livid. She positively seethed with rage at her mother's attempt to play match maker and it made her furious at how little control she had over the situation. She decided to play the game a different way, if she had to go then she would bring a date, and Ashton fit the bill.

But when Justin arrived, and he looked so devastatingly handsome she questioned why she was resisting all of this in the first place, any girl would kill to be in her shoes and she was all too eager to take off running barefoot. Still the way he did things to her, how he made her breath hitch, and her stomach flutter, she found that he was dangerous, more dangerous than she had previously thought. Women were forever throwing away all their power on a man for this thing called love, but she didn't buy it, she wouldn't let Justin interfere.

It was with that thought that she stood and took Ashton's flowers, "Thank you, you're too kind. Ashton I believe you know Mr. Scotts? Justin, this is Mr. Lane, my date for the evening."

[Justin Scotts]

Well, this was an unexpected development, and an unpleasant one at that. The last thing he wanted to do was to share Natasha with another man. If he had known she would pull something like this, he would have brought Gwen along as a distraction. He hadn't even thought to bring flowers--a severe oversight on his part.

Still, as he silently sized up the new arrival, Justin felt fairly certain that this bloke was not actual competition for Natasha's hand... that he was just a buffer, so to speak. He was an unlikely choice for a chaperone, but Justin refused to be threatened by this man.

So he put on his best smile and reached out to shake Ashton's hand. "Ashton Lane... I don't believe we've actually met, but obviously, I am familiar with your family. So good of you to come tonight," he said.

[Ashton Lane]

This was hardly the first time Natasha had conned him into playing her date for the evening, but she hadn't told him this time, and one glance at Justin told him exactly why. There was something dangerous about Justin, sure he was charming, but there was something lethal just under the surface, to top it off he was a Scotts and while he may have heard of Ashton's parents, they were in no way on par with Justin's.

"And everyone is acquainted with your family." he said shaking the man's hand firmly. No he wasn't afraid of Justin, and he wouldn't be intimidated though a lesser man might have been, but Ashton had his own aspirations.

He tossed a glance at Natasha, one that said she owed him, but at the gentle squeeze he felt on his arm he relented and was once again all charm.

"I'm pleasantly surprised by your company as well, should be a wonderful evening."

[Natasha Davenport]

Natasha knew she should have told Ashton, but for some reason she was afraid he wouldn't go through with it even if he had in the past. Justin was a catch and most people would do anything to get the kind of attention he was paying her, but Natasha was running the other way. Even though Ashton loved her, like a little sister, he might think he was being noble or some other sentimentality that she didn't care for, by pushing her toward Justin.

When he gave her a look, she squeezed his arm lightly her eyes silently begging him to stay with her.

"I'm really so happy you could make it." she said kissing his cheek lightly, then giving Justin a "haha" kind of smirk.

He was the one who started this war, but she was going to win it. With another look at both her men she seemed to relax and then as if to commence the evening the lights dimmed indicating the start of the show.

[Justin Scotts]

Justin wasn't sure who he wanted to kill more, Ashton or Natasha. No... no, definitely Ashton. He had far more appealing plans for Natasha. She had done this on purpose, he had no doubt. She had known he was coming, and she had dressed in her most alluring gown and invited someone else to be her "date" for the evening. Well, this was a development he had certainly not expected. And normally he could play this kind of game just as well as she could, but she'd actually caught him off guard. It wouldn't happen again.

Oh, it was a war all right. And she might have won a little ground in this particular battle, but it was all far from over. Even if he still didn't know what his endgame was, he was determined to win her heart and her body. And no one, least of all Ashton Lane, was going to keep him from his goal.

It was a pity that the show was about to start, because Justin would have liked to talk a bit more with Ashton to feel him out a bit and determine whether he was a real threat or just a distraction. He suspected the latter, but he would have to wait to talk with the man and figure it out.

At least now he had time to regain his composure and figure out his next move. But it was pretty damn difficult to concentrate on the show while Natasha was sitting so near--close enough to touch.

[Natasha Davenport]

Natasha caught the less than subtle anger from Justin. It filled her with glee she decided, though she wasn't sure if she was happy because she won the round or because she convinced herself that Justin's anger was part jealousy. Did she want Justin to be jealous? It was a thought she didn't intend to think too hard upon.

She too was experiencing some difficulty in being around him these days, her body understood and accepted what her mind could not, and it longed to be held, touched, caressed by the man who declared war against her. But her mind understood, at least subconsciously, that she was fighting for more than her body or for pleasure. There was something dangerous about Justin, something that threatened to tear her whole world apart. He was a man that would not be manipulated or controlled, he was -despite what she would say - her equal more so than her brother ever had been. Was it so very long ago that she fancied herself in love with Devin? Why didn't she think of him at all when Justin was around? Why did she think of Justin instead of Devin when she was alone?

These were questions she wouldn't answer, she refused, she had to keep her distance and her sanity. Justin Scotts was too available, too perfect, too everything she needed and didn't know she could want or have.

The show was starting and yet as the play unfolded in front of her, she was too busy thinking of the players in this game she had started. Who would win? Who would lose? What was at stake?

[Ashton Lane]

As for Ashton, the more he thought about it he definitely wanted to murder Natasha. Ordinarily he didn't mind playing these roles for her, but one look at Justin and he realized this was more than just a game. Ashton had no clue what he was getting into this time, this wasn't some schoolboy or geriatric looking to get a trophy wife out of Natasha, this was a dangerous man. A man who for all intents and purposes could have and could do whatever he wanted. And it didn't look as though he were merely infatuated with Natasha so much as invested by the anger that emanated from the man.

Was she really going against Justin Scotts? Was she insane? Of course she was, and he loved her for it, but her insanity was going to cost him dearly if it didn't play out right. Not that he was scared, but this was the last thing he needed right now.

As they took their seats and the curtain lifted he sat back and thought how to get himself and Natasha out of this mess.

[Justin Scotts]

Justin had nothing against the ballet, although he usually found it to be a pretentious, stuffy affair. Tonight, however, the opera seemed positively insufferable. He had no interest in sitting through any of it. He was far more interested in Natasha. Damn her for bringing a date. Damn her for playing this little game so well. He positively ached for her, and it frustrated him to no end that there was another man sitting between them, so he couldn’t even touch her.

He had thought that the box would be the perfect place to seduce her; he hadn’t counted on her realizing that very same thing. He had underestimated her.

Somehow, he would have to rethink his tactics. Be gentler, be kinder, be… not himself. What worked on other girls would not work on her. He was going to have to figure out what she really wanted, what made her tick.

Finally, the first act ended, and Justin was sure he’d aged about 10 years. The lights came on, and Justin turned to Natasha with a small smile. “Would you like a drink?” he asked, offering his arm.

[Natasha Davenport]

Natasha adored the ballet. When she was still a child she used to twirl in her bedroom pretending she was one of the graceful women who twirled onstage. She had grown older, but the dream was still a part of her. It showed in the way she paid rapt attention to the performers below.

She was so enthralled by the performance, she had taken Justin's arm before she realized what she was doing.

Finally she stared at him and glanced back at Ashton, how did that happen? She couldn't simply jerk her hand away, that would have been rude and they were now mixed with other people. Sensong the inevitable she sighed.

"Fine."